Beetlejuice (Tim Burton, 1988) Review

I'm quite concerned that a lot of the films I went over to review next were directed by Tim Burton which reminds me how messed up in the head he is. While I'm sure I'll get down to watching proper horror films like A Nightmare On Elm Street and Halloween so that I can review them but...I haven't watched them yet so lets have one more comedic horror film before diving into the proper horror. Let's take a look at Beetlejuice.

When married couple Adam (Alec Baldwin) and Barbara (Geena Davis) are killed in a car accident, they return to their home and learn that they are now ghosts. The problem is that a new family is planning on moving into their home while Adam and Barbara fail at scaring them out since it only makes them want to stay more. The couple decide to call for the help of Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), a "bio-exorcist", who has more plans than just helping them.

This is definitely one of the Tim Burton films that I would call a classic. Michael Keaton kills it as the eponymous spirit and steals the show from everyone else. That's not to say that everyone else is terrible. In fact, far from it. Catherine O'Hara and Jeffrey Jones are very memorable as the obnoxious couple that are moving in with the dinner scene being the highlight of the film (I can see the fans of the film chuckling now) which leads me onto the comedy. This is a great example of balancing creepy imagery with great comedy that doesn't date itself.

Unique is the word I would use to describe this film...and a lot of other Tim Burton films but this one is the most unique. I think insane might be a better word based on the writing, humour and make-up (Michael Keaton is unrecognisable!). It's clear that Burton had strong creative control in this film which will probably determine what you're opinion on the film is seeing as there are some people that aren't fond of Tim Burton and his...craziness.

Beetlejuice knows how to balance comedy and creepy imagery perfectly with memorable acting from the likes of Michael Keaton who steals the show. There are some great scenes and some generally creepy moments to fulfill the horror aspect of the film. It's not perfect but there is even good stuff to be worth a recommendation, especially if you're a fan of Tim Burton's other films.

Verdict:
7.5/10
A perfect balance of comedy and creepy imagery with great acting and memorable scenes.